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SPOTI-BYE: Obamas ink HUGE deal with Amazon Audible after falling out with Spotify

'At least I have a choice whether to listen to their content or not. I choose not,' a user said

Barack and Michelle Obama are extending their media sphere by joining forces with Amazon's Audible in a multi-year agreement that will see them produce podcasts and other audio material for the platform after leaving Spotify.

The first-look agreement, which is apparently worth several million dollars, was made by the Obamas' Higher Ground production firm. Don Katz, the company's founder, praised the Obamas in a news statement on Tuesday, 21 June describing them as “two of the most profound voices of moral and intellectual leadership of our times.” After Spotify partnered with Joe Rogan, whose enormously successful podcast has become a target of the traditional media, several left-wing musicians, including Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Obama supporter Ava DuVernay, left the firm lately. The Obamas will be joined at Audible by left-leaning celebrities like George Clooney, Kerry Washington, and basketball player LeBron James who have already inked deals with the Amazon-owned company. Audible shared the news on Twitter and wrote: "Big news to share today. @HGMedia, @BarackObama and @MichelleObama - welcome to Audible! Read on for more about our exciting announcement.

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Obamas joining the platform drew varied responses from Twitter users. However, the majority dislike the move. A user wrote, "GREAT, I will never use AUDIBLE again!" While another one commented, "You couldn’t pay me to listen to anything the Obama’s put out. Boring." "At least I have a choice whether to listen to their content or not. I choose not," a user said."Obama's heading to Audible from $SPOT Honestly, I feel like politicians are generally bad deals commercially. I think SPOT should focus on culture, sports & entertainment and just stay away from anything political in America," a user tweeted.

In a statement, Michelle Obama stated, “we will keep striving to tell compelling, provocative, and soulful stories—while doing everything we can to make sure they reach the folks who need to hear them.  The Obamas recently terminated their contract with Spotify and will no longer use the service when it expires in October. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pair secured an exclusive podcast agreement with Spotify in 2019 and still has a few titles left under their Spotify contract. The Obamas' Higher Ground continues to have a contract with Netflix under which it produces scripted series and documentaries. The former first couple recently revealed 'Bodkin', a humorous thriller starring Will Forte from 'Saturday Night Live', as their debut drama series on Netflix.